Signature-gatherer.



c. A. CHESHIRE.

SIGNATURE GATHERER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY3I. 1913. I 1,147,481 Patented July 20, 1915.

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SIGNATURE GATHERER. .KPPLICATION F ILED MAY 3!. I913.

Patented July 20, 1915. 9 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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SIGNATURE GATHERER.

7 APPLICATION FILED MAY 31 1913- v 1,147 41, Patented July 20, 1910.

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SIGNATURE GATHERER. APPLICATION'HLED- MAY 31, 1913.

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1 CGPY B EST AV C, A CHESHIRE. SIGNM'U'RE GATHERER.

APELICATION FILED MAY 31, 1913.

Patented July 20, 1915.

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APPLICATION FILED MAY 31, I913. LlWA 1., Patented July 20, 1915,

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C. A. CHESHIRE. SIGNATURE GATHEBER. "APPLICATION FILED MAY3ll-l9l3.

1,147,481. Paten fied '20 5. 1 9 sn -sm: T j

[II m wwli i CAREY A. GHESHLRE, OF DES IVIGINES, IOWA.

SIGNATURE-GATHERER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

LiettASl.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, CAREY A. CHESHIRE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Des Moines, county of Folk, and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signature- Gatherers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in signature gatherers especially adapted for use in assembling book sections and has for its object the provision of a machine of this character which is capable of rapid and efiicient operation.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combinations and :n-rangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which, 4

Figure 1 is a top plan View of a portion of a machine embodying my invention and showing one complete pair of feeding mechanisms applied thereto, Fig. 2, an enlarged section taken on line a-a of Fig. 1, Fig. 3, an enlarged detail section taken on line 7i-/) of Fig. 2, Fig. l, a section taken on line c-r: of Fig. i, Fig. 5, a section taken on line (Z(Z of Fig. i, Fig. 6, an enlarged central vertical section taken through one of the feed hoppers employed in the machine, Fig. 7. a view similar to Fig. (3 but taken through the opposite feed hopper, Fig. 8, an enlarged top plan View corresponding to Fig. 6, Fig. 9, an enlarged partial longitudinal section taken centrally of the machine and showing a face view of one complete hopper, Fig. 10, an enlarged horizontal section of a portion of the machine taken imonediately under the supporting table there- 'of, Fig. 11., a section taken on line ce of Fig. 10, Fig. 12, an enlarged transverse section through one of the reciprocatorybase plates employed in thefeed hopper, Fig. 13,.

an enlarged section taken on line ff of Fig. 12, and Fig. M, an enlarged section taken on line 9 of'Fig. 10. p

The preferred form of construction as illustrated in the drawings comprises a suit able supporting table I which is'provided with longitudinal slots 2 extending throughout its entire length and suitablysu port- Application filed May 31, 1913. Serial No. 771,003.

Patented July 20, 1915..

.iiijnffi ed on frames or stands 3 as shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 6. A supporting shaft 4 is arranged adjacent and below one end of table 1 and a pairof sprocket wheels 5 are fined to supporting shaft l, as shown in Fig. 1. Between sprocket wheels 5 a pair of sprocket wheels 6 are loosely mounted on shaft 4 as shown in Fig. 1. A driving shaft 7 is mounted adjacent and below the opposite end of table 1 and a pair of sprocket wheels 8 are fixed to shaft 7 in longitudinal alinement with sprocket wheels 5 so as to accommofl its sprocket feed chains 8 as shown in Fig. 1, said sprocket feed chains 8. passing over sprockets 8 and Another pair of sprocket wheels 9 are fixed to a sleeve 10 which is loosely mounted on. shaft 7 in longitudinal alinement with sprocket wheels 6 so as to accommodate positioning chainsf) as shown 111 Fig. 1, sa d positioning chains 9' passing over sprocket wheels (5 and 9.

bleeve 10 is made somewhat larger than shaft 7 and collars 11. are arranged loosely on shaft within the ends of said sleeve.

Sleeve 10 and collars 11 are provided with registering circumferential slots and 13 respectively and a p n 16ls passed through each set of said slots and secured in the shaft 7 as shown in Fig. Sleeve 1.0 carries set screws 15 by means of which Sjlltl sleeve may be ad ustably secured to collars 11. The

space between collars 11 is occupied by a coiled spring 16, one end 17 of said spring being secured to sleeve 10 and the other end 13 being secured to shaft 7. The arrangement is such, as will he observed, that spring 16 will normally hold sleeve 10 in. its for ward position, that is with the rear side of slot l2 resting against the rear of pin 14 as shown in Fig. 3, but in case sprocket wheels 7 9 he momentarily held from rotation, spring 16 will yield and permit said sprocket wheels 9 to remain stationary until the forward side of pinv 14: engages the forward edge of slot 13, whereupon wheels 9 are rigidly connected with shaft 7 andthe power of said shaft will be directly transmitted to said sprocket wneels 9 to cause the overcoming of any resistance placed thereon and the travel of said sprocket wheels 9and consequently (if-sprocket chains 9". will also he observed teat when; sprocket wheels Qare relieved from such extraordinaryresistance spring 16 w ll serve to accelerate their move ment and cause said sprocket Wheels 9 to assume their original relation on shaft 7, as shown in Fig. 3. By adjusting sleeve 10 relatively to collars 11, the extent of this re tarding possibility of sprocket Wheels 9 and chains 9 maybe adjusted Within the range of slots 12 and 13.

Arranged on sprocket chains 8, as shown in Figs. 1, 6 and 10, are transversely registering supporting lugs 19, each of said lugs being provided with a longitudinal slot 20 and an upstanding pin 21 adjustably mounted in said slot. Likewise the chains 9 are provided with transversely registering supporting lugs 22 having longitudinal adjusting slots 23 and upstanding pins 24 adjustable in slots 23. "Pins 21 and 24 project upwardly through the slots 2 in table 1, pins'21 being arranged just outside of the paths of pins 24., as shown. A yieldable stop arm 25 is pivoted to the bottom of table 1 and set with its free end in the pathof pins 24, said arm 25 being yieldingly held in normal position against a stop pin 26 by means of an adjustable spring 27. The arrangement is' such, that when one of the pins 21 encounters the free end of arm 25, the spring 27 is strong enough to overcome the spring 16 and cause the chains 9 and sprocket wheels 9 to remain stationary until the forward side of pin 11 strikes the forward edge of slot 13, whereupon the resistanceof spring 27 is overcome by the direct application of power from shaft 7 and the corresponding pin 21 caused to pass stop arm 25 and the travel of chains 9 is resumed as explained above. this arrangement, it will be observed that articles which are being pushed along table 1 by feed pins 21 may be nicely positioned against said feed pins by stopping pins 24 sufficiently to contact with the forward edges of said articles, provided pins 21 and 24 have been adjusted so as to-nor,- mally occupy positions a little farther apart than the corresponding dimensions of said articles.

A plurality of reciprocatory concave feed plates 28 are slidably mounted on opposite sides of table 1 somewhat above said table and in transversely registering pairs as shown in Figs. 1, 4, 9 and 10. The plates 28 on one side of the table are arranged at a slightly higher elevation than those on the other: but said plates are all identical in form and function and the description of one and its cotiperating parts will suflice for all. All of the plates 28-.on each side of the machine are carried by a longitudinally extending supporting bar 29 which extends the full length oftable 1, there being one of said bars on each side of said table. Each of the bars 29 is provided on itsbottom with a plurality of bearings 30 which are slidably mounted on guiding and supporting rods 31 which are secured in suplength of table 1 and suitably mounted in j the frames 3 as indicated, there being a shaft 40 arranged under each of'the supporting bars 29. At one end each of the shafts 40 carries abeveled gear 41 meshing with a corresponding bevel gear 42 on the corrc sponding end of a countershaft 13 arranged transversely under table 1 and driven from power shaft 7 by means of a sprocket chain 15, as will be readily i'inderstood. By this arrangement, it will be observed that as power shaft 7 rotates to cause travel of chains 8 and 9' and consequently of pins 21 and 2-17, shafts 40 will be rotated to cause eccentrics 39 to operate rock bars 36 to reciprocate supporting members 29 and consequently plates 28 simultaneously toward and away from table 1. The gearing is such that the feed plates 28 will make a complete reciprocation as each set of pins 21 and 21- passes the corresponding plate.

The upper surface of plate 28 is covered by a thin sheet metal plate 28 which is provided with a plurality of longitudinal slots 46 in the rear portion thereof, and the upper surface of plate is provided with a corresponding number of grooves or channels L7 registering with slots 16 but somewhat wider as shown in Figs. 1, 6, 7, 8, 9,

12 and 13. an engaging portion 49 on its forward side is mounted on plate 28 over each of the slots 46, each of said members 48 being provided with a square projection 50 projecting into and fitting the corresponding slot 46. A square threaded block or nut 52 is slidably arranged in the corresponding groove 47 under the corresponding member 48 and is secured t'osaid stop member by means of a. screw bolt 51. By this arrangement it will be ()bSOl'VCd, that by tightening or loosening screw 51 the corresponding member 48 may be secured in adjusted positions in the corresponding groove 46;

Arranged over each of the plates 28 as shown in Figs. 1, 4, (3, 7, 8 and 9 is an adjustable feed hopper adapted to contain a pile or stack of book sections. The inner or discharge side of said hopper is formed by a vertically adjustable stop bar 54 which A feed member 48 provided with Y formed by substantially U-shaped rods 62 ed in bar v59.

The outer or rear side of the hopper 53 is formed by an angular member 57 which is adjustably secured by means of a bolt 58 with a supporting bar 59 traversing the rear of said hoppers and suitably supported on frame members 3. Supporting bar 59 is adjustably secured in position on frame members 3 by'means of bolts 'GO'enga-ging through slots 61 provided in said frame members for this purpose. The sides of the hoppers are move the forward edge of said bottommost section beyond stop bar 54:, said stop bar 54 being adjusted to .permit the passage of said edge but to prevent the passage of any of the upper book sections.

Each of the plates 28 is provided with a forwardly projecting central finger 66 which is adapted to pass between feed rollers 67 i and 68 and deliver the book section removed to said feed rollers as shown in Figs. 1, 4, 6, 7 8 and 9. The feed rollers 67 are arranged inpairs,-there being one of said feed rollers-on each side of the path of the corresponding finger 66, and all of the rollers 87 being fixed 'to a longitudinal shaft 69 extending along the front of each set of hoppers and suitably mounted on frames 3 as shown. The rollers 68 are arranged in pairs to correspond with rollers 61, but each pair of rollers 68 is mounted on a separate shaft 70 arranged above shaft 69, the shaft 69 being driven from the corresponding shaft 10 by means of a sprocket chain 71 as will be readily understood. Each of the individual shafts 70 is mounted in vertically slidable bearing blocks7 2 slidable in bearings 73 and yi-eldingly pressed toward shaft 69 by means of springs 74- whose tension is rendered adjustable by means of set screws 75. Each of. the shafts 70 carries a pinion 76 meshing with a pinion 77 on the corresponding shaft 69, said gears serving to rotate the shafts 70 positively in unison with the corresponding shaft 69. "By this arrangement it will be observed that at each reciprocation of plate 28, the bottommost section of a stack in the corresponding hopper will be delivered to the corresponding feed rollers 67 and 68'and'rapidly withdrawn from the corresponding hopper, the yieldable mounting of shaft 7 0 accommodating book sections of diiferent thicknesses within the range of the teeth on gears 76 insulating material mounted on the top of supporting bar 32. A riding roller 80 is arranged lmmediately over roller 78 and 1s carried by an upwardly swinging arm 81 which is mounted in a bracket 82 securedto a block of insulating material 83 mounted on a supporting bar 8-1 as shown. Arranged above and beyond roller 80vis a contact arm 85 which is adjustably secured to block 83 in position to be engaged by roller 80 in case said roller is lifted a considerable distance from the corresponding roller 78. An electric signal light 86 is arranged on'bar 55 centrally in front of each of the hoppers 53 and an'electric feed wire 87 is arranged along the top of each set of hoppers and connected with each of the lights 86 by means of' a branch wire 88. A branch wire 89 leads from the other terminal of each of the lights 86 to the corresponding bracket 82, thus placing roller 80 in circuit with the corresponding light 86. A. branch wire 90 connects each of the supporting arms 79 with a wire 91 extending along each set of hoppers on each side of the machine and.

each of the contact members 85 is connected with wire 91 by means of a branch wire 92. Each of the wires 91 leads to the same terminal of an electro-magnet 93 and a wire 93" leads from the other terminal of said electro-magnet along the side of table 1 and is connected by a. branch wire 9-1 with a spring contact 95 secured to a block 96 of insulating material carried by a frame 97 arranged on the under side of table 1 as shown in the upper left hand corner of Fig. 10 Frame '97 is adjustably secured to the under side of table Lby means of screw bolts 98 taking through longitudinal slots 99 in said table as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 8. Frame 97 carries a" spring held bell crank lever, one arm 100 ofv which is arranged to beswun'g into contact with spring contact 95 and the other arm 101 of said bell crank being extended into the path of thepins 21 on the corresponding chain 8. Bell crank 100- 101 is grounded by means of a branch wire v100 or other suitable means. The frame 97 is so adjusted on table 1 that one of the pins 21 will engage arm 101 at the same time that a. book section is passing between rollers 78 and 80,

said book section thus constituting an insulation between said rollers;

If for any reason, ow ng to the exhaustion tea.

of the pile or stack of sections in any hopper, or to other causes, a book section should fail to feed through rollers 78 and 80 at the proper time, roller 80 will make contact with roller 78 at the same time that arm 100 makes contact with spring contact 95. If these contacts are made simultaneously the current. will flow from supply wire 87 through branch wire 88, thence through light 86 and branch wire 89 to arm 81 and roller S0,'then through roller 78, arm 79, branch wire 90, and wire 91 i to electro-magnet 93. From 'electro-magnet 93 the current will flow through the Wire 93' to branch wire 94 and spring contact 95. From contact 95 the current will flow through arm 100 and branch wire 100 to the ground thus completing an operative circuit through the corresponding light 86 and the electro-magnet 93 and operating light 86 to notify the operator where the trouble is and simultaneously operating magnet 93 to stop the machine as will be explained more fully hereinafter. On the other hand if two book sections should accidentally feed from any one of the hoppers,

-'the.roller 80 will be forced outwardly into cont-act with member 85 and thus close a circuit from wire 87 to roller as before, thence through member and branch wire 92 to wire 91 and thence through the electro-magnet as before. Thus, it will be observed,

that in case no book section feeds from any one of the hoppers at the proper tune, or in case two or more book sections should feed therefrom, an electric circuit through the corresponding light and the elcctro-magnet will be closed to notify the operator-as to which hopper is defective and to stop the machine pending a remedy.

The core or armature 102 of the electromagnet 93, as shown in Fig. 2 carries a catch 103 engaging a notch 1011 in a. ball weight 105, catch 103 being held in latching position by means of a spring 100. Ball weight 105 is mounted on one arm of a bell crank 107, the other arm of said bell operatively connected with a clutch member 108 which is splined or feathered on the power shaft 7 of the machine. Clutch mem her 108 cooperates with .a clutch member secured to a driving pulley 110 loosely mounted on shaft 7. By this arrangement, it will be observed, that upon excitation of magnet 93 as explained above, catch 103 will be withdrawn and weight pern'iitted to fall. The fall of weight 105 disengages clutch 108 from clutch 109 and thus disengages the power shaft from the driving pulley 110 stopping the machine as mentioned above.

- Leading from each of the hoppers on the right hand side of the machine; as shown in,

Fig. 1 IS a pair of supporting guide rods 111 and a similar pair of guide rods 112 leads froin each of the hoppers on the other crank bcing .1 foot 121 secured by screw side of the machine. Each of the guide rods 1l1-112 is carried by a bracket 113 which is provided with a vertical slot in which said rod is rendered vertically adjustable by means of lock nuts 11% as shown in 8. Each of the brackets 113 is provided with a clamp 115 slidably mounted .on supporting bars 32 and adjustably secured thereto by means of aset screw 116. The outer ends of guide rods 111 are bent at right angles there to and formed sinuously as shown to constitute stops for a. book section sliding on said guide rods. The guide rods 111 and 112 are so arranged with respect to their respective hoppers and feed plates 28 that they will is engaged by rollers 63' and 68 said book e section will be supported by the corresponding guide rods 111-112 in its curved position, but that as soon as the book section is freed from the corresponding feed rollers, said book section will be free to bend further and thus fall'through said guide rods onto table 1 between corresponding sets of pins 21 and 2-1.

Two lateral positioning members 118, shown in Figs. (3, 7 and 8 are arranged on each side of table 1 adjacent each pair of hoppers, the lower ends of said positioning members 118 being provided with V-shaped projections sliding in shallow V-shaped slots 119 in the top of table 1, the positioning members 118 on the right hand side of the machine, as shown in Fig. 4, extending high enough to constitute stops for guide rods 112 as indicated. Each of the positioning mentbers 118 is carried by a bracket 120 having bolts 122 and nuts 123 to a longitudinal bar 12:) extending along the correspom'ling side of the machine. This adjustable connection is effected by providing T-slots 121- in bar 125 and mount ing nuts 123 in the lower portion of said slots as will be readily understood. Bar 125 is adjustably mornted on a laterally reciprocating bar or plate. 120 by means of slots 123' and bolts 128. By this arrangement it will be observed that positioning members 118 may be adjusted either longitudinally of table 1 or transversely thereof to accommodate difi'erent sizes of book sectlons thereoni Each of the bars 126, as shownbest in Rocker arms which are secured atiuten W W if A vals to rocker shafts 131 have their upper ends engaging suitable slots in the corre-,

sponding bars 126. Each of the rocker arms 1 15 connected by a chain 132 with an arm 133 fixed to a shaft 13% mounted under table 1. l lach of the shafts 131 carries an 1 -30 to move bars 126 and members 118 toward each other to engage the book sections laterally and position them in this direction also.

In use the machine is provided With enough feed hoppers to accommodate all of the diiferent sections of the book which it is desired to assemble. Then, stacks or piles of these different book sections are arranged in the different hoppers preferably, where possible, with their folded edges to the rear with reference to the direction of feed on table 1 and commencing withithe first book section arranged in the lower hopper at the end of the machine Where the pins 21 and 21 enter the slots in table 1. The next section is arranged in the opposite hopper, the third section in the next adjacent lower hopper, ;the fourth section in the hopper opposite and so on until all sections have been provided for. Then the machine is started andfl'as each set of pins 21 and pass each pair of hoppers, a pair of book sections will be deposited and properly positioned therebetween' by the automatic action of the parts as explained above. Thus, when the set of pins 21 and 24 which receive as their first sections, sections one and two of the book asexplained above,'arrivcs at the delivery end of the machine, it will contain a complete assembled book, and

all s of pins thereafter'will contain a completely assembled book as long as the hop-* pcrs are kept supplied with the proper sections and barring accidents-fin case or an accident at any one 01' the hoppers, the ma- 3 chine is stopped at once and notice given the operator as to Where the difficulty lies. When the properly assembled books arrive at the delivery end of the machine they may be removed by hand or other suitable agents. Y I p Whi'lel have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrving my invention into effect, this is capal ie of variations and modifications Without departing from the spirit of the invention. It. ther ore. do not Wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth,

at its to avail myself of such variations ml :no 1 rations as come Within the scope .5 ti e appended claims,

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: r

1. An assembling machine comprising a con veyer; and feeding mechanisms arranged on opposite sides of said conveyor and operating to deposit articles thereon in piles, substantially as described.

2. An assembling machine comprising a conveyer; and feeding mechanisms arranged in pairs with the members of each pair on opposite sides of said conveyer opposite each other at different elevations and "operating to deposit articles thereon in piles, substantially as described.

An assembling machine comprising a conveyer; and feeding mechanisms arranged on opposite sides of said conveyer and op crating to deposit articles thereon in piles, each of said feeding mechanisms comprising a. hopper, and a reciprocatory member adapted to engage the outer edge of the bottommost member of a pile of articles in said hopper, substantially as described 4. An assembling machine comprising a conveyer; and feeding mechanisms arranged on opposite sides of said conveyer at different elevations and operating to deposit articles thereon in piles, each of said feeding mechanisms com rising a. hopper, and a reciprocatory mein er adapted to engage the outer edge of the bottommost member of a pile of articles in said hopper, substantially as described.

5. An assembling machine comprising a conveyer; and feeding mechanisms arrangedv on opposite sides of said conveyer and operating to deposit articles lllllGOITlH piles, each of said feeding mechanisms comprising a hopper, and a reciprocatory plate curved transversely with respect to the'dire'ction of reciprocation and having feed members adapted to engage the outer edge of the bottoinmost member of a pile of articles in said hopper, substantially as described,

, 6. An assembling machine comprising a conveyer; and feeding mechanisms arranged on; opposite sides of said conveyer at differen-t elevations and operating to deposit articles thereon in piles, each of said feeding mechanisms comprising a hopper, and a reciprocatory plate curved transversely with respect to the direction'of reciprocation and having feed members adapted to engage the "outer edge of the bottommost member of a xpile of articles in said hopper, substantially as described,

7. An assembling machine comprising a' conveyer; feeding mechanisms arranged on opposite sides of said conveyer and operating to deposit articles thereon in piles, each of said feeding mechanisms comprising a hopper; a reciprocatory plate curved transversely with respectto the direction of reciprocation and having feed members adapt ed to engage the outer edge of the bottommost member of a pile of articles in said hopper; and means for reciprocating said plates substantially sinmltaneously, substantially as described.

8. An assembling machine comprising a conveyor; feeding mechanisms arranged on opposite sides of said conveyor at different elevations and operating to deposit articles thereon in piles, each oi said feeding mechanisms comprising a hopper; a reciproeatory plate curved transversely with respect to the direction of reciprocation and having feed members adapted to engage the outer edge of the bottommost member of a pile of articles in said hopper; and 111eans for re eiproca'ting said plates substantially simultaneously, substantially as described.

9. A machine of the class described con1 prising a conveyer; and feeding mechanisms cooperating therewith, each of said feeding mechanisms comprising a hopper and a reciprocating plate curvedtransversely with respect to the direction ot reciprocation and having teed members adapted to engage the outer edge of the bottommost member of a pile of articles in said hopper, substantially as described.

10. An assembling machine comprising a slotted supporting table; a traveling member arranged under said table: upwardly projecting feed members on said traveling member, projecting through the slot in said table and arranged to push articles along said table; and feeding mechanisms arranged on opposite sides of said conveyor and operating to deposit articles thereon in piles, each of said feeding mechanisms comprising a hopper, and a reciprocatory member adapted to engage the outer edge oi the bottommost member of a pile of articles in said hopper, substantially as described.

11. in assembling machine comprising a slotted supporting table: a traveling member arranged,undcr said table: upwardly projecting feed members on said traveling member, projecting through the slot in said table and arranged to push articles along said table; and feeding mechanis111s arranged on. opposite sides of said convever at different elevations and operating to deposit articles thereon in piles, each of said feeding mechanis111s comprising a hopper. and a reciprocatory member adapted to engage the outer edge of the bottommost member of a pile of articles in said hopper, substantially as described.

12. An assembling machine comprising a slotted supporting table; a traveling 111en1- ber arranged under said tabl; u nvardly projecting feed members on said traveling member, projecting through the slot in said table aiid arrangedto push articles along saidtable; teedmg mechanisms arranged on opposite sidesot said 'conveyer and operating to deposit articles thereon in piles, each of said feeding mechanisms comprising a hopper; and a reeiprocatory plate curved transversely with respect to the direction of reciprocation and having feeding members. 769

adapted to engage the outer edge of the bottommost member of a pile. of articles in said hopper, substantially as described.

13. An assembling machine comprising a slotted supporting table; a t'aveling mom her arranged under said table; upwardly 'n'ojecting feed members on said traveling member, projecting through the slot in said table and arranged to push artigles along said table;-'teeding mechanisms arranged on so opposite sides of said conveyor at different elevations and operating to deposit articles thereon in. piles, each of said feeding mecha; nisms comprising a-hopper; and a reciprocatory plate curved transversely with respeet to the direction of reciprocation and having feeding members adapted to engage the outer edge of the bottommost member of a pile of articles in said hopper, substantially as described.

member, projecting through the slot in said table and arranged to push articles along said table: feedingmechanisms arranged on opposite sides of said conveyer and operating to deposit articles thereon in piles, each of said Feeding mechanisms comprising a hopper; a reciprocatory plate curved trans-- versely with respect to the direction of -re- 1 eiprocation and having feeding memlnn's adapted to engage the outer edge'oi the bottonnnost 111en'1ber of a pile of articles in said hopper; and means for reciprocating said plates substantially siimilt-aneously, substantially as described.

15. An assmibling machine comprising a slotted supporting table: a travehng meml ber arranged under said table: upwardly projecting teed n1e111bers on said traveling member. projecting through the slot in said table and arranged to push articles along opposit sides of said conveyor at dilierent elevations and operating to deposit articles thereon in piles, each of said feeding mechanisms comprising a hopper; a reciprocating plate curved transversely fivith respect to the direction of reciprocation and having feeding members adapted to engage the onteuedge oi the bottommost member of a pile of articles in said hopper; and means for reciprocating said plates substantiallv simultaneously substantially as described.

16. in assembling machine comprising conveyer; a plurality of pairs of feed hoppers arranged with the members of each pair on opposite sides ofsaid conveyerg a .said table: feeding 111ecl1anisn1s arranged on reciprocatory base plate for each hopper concaved transversely with respect to the direction of reciprocation; feeding members on each of said base plates arranged to en gage the outer edge of the bottoinmos't article of a pile of articles in the corresponding hopper; feed rollers arranged to engage said article to discharge it onto said conveyor; and means for reciprocating said base plates, substantially as described.

17. An assembling machine comprising a conveyer; a plurality of pairs of feed hoppers arranged with the members of each 7 pair on opposite sides of said conveyer; a

reciprocatory base plate for each hopper concaved transversely with respect to the direction of reciprocation; feeding members on each of said baseplates arranged to engage-the outer edge of the bottommost article of a pile of articles in the corresponding hopper; feed rollers arranged to engage said article to discharge it onto said conveyer; and means for reciprocating said base plates substantially simultaneously, substantially as described.

18. An assembling machine comprising a conveyor; a plurality of pairs offeed hoppers arranged with the members of each pair on opposite sides of said conveyor; a reciprocatory base plate for each hopper transversely concaved with respect to the direction of reciprocation; feeding members on eachof said base plates arranged to engage the outer edge of the bottommost article of a pile of articles in the corresponding hopper; feed rollers arranged to engage said article to discharge it onto said conveyer; members arranged to support a discharging article in curved position until free of said rollers; and means for reciprocating said base plates substantially as described.

19. An assembling machine comprising a conveyor; a plurality of pairs of feed hoppers arranged with the members of each pair on opposite sides of said conveyor; a

reciprocatory base plate forfleach hopper transversely concaied with respect to the direction of reciprocation; feeding members on each of said base plates arranged to engage the outer edge of the bottomiiiost article of a pile of articles in the corresponding hopper; feed rollers arranged to engage said article to discharge it onto said conveyer;

members arranged to support a discharging article in curved position until free of said' rollers; and means for reciprocating said base plates substantially simultaneously, substantially as described.

90. An assembling machine comprising a slotted supporting table; a traveling member arranged under said table; upwardly projecting feed members on said traveling member projecting through the slot in said table and arranged to push articles along said table; a plurality of pairs of feed hoppers arranged with the membersof each pair on opposite sides of said conveyor; a reciprocatory base plate for each hopper transversely concaved with respect to the, direction of reciprocation; feeding members on each of said base plates arranged to en-- gage the outer edge of the bottoinmost article of a pile of articles in the corresponding hopper; feed rollers arranged to en: gage said article to discharge it onto said conveyor; and means for reciprocating said base plates, substantially as described 21. An assembling machine comprising a reciprocatory base plate for each hopper transversely concaved with respect to the direction of reciprocation; feeding members on each of said base plates arranged to an.

gage the outer edge of the bottommost ar-I ticle of a pile of articles in the corresponding hopper; feed rollers arranged to engage said article to discharge it onto said con-. 1

veyer; and means for reciprocating said base plates substantially simultaneously; substantially as described,

.22. An assembling machine comprising a.

slotted supporting table; a traveling member arranged under said table; upwardly projecting feed members on said traveling member projecting through the slot in said table and arranged to push articles along, said table; a plurality of pairs of feed hoppers arranged withthe members of each pair on opposite sides of said conveyor; a reciprocatory base plate tor each hopper transversely concaved with respect to the direction of reciprocation; ffeeding inembers on each of said base plates arranged to engage the outer edge of the bottommos't article of a pile of articles in the correspond ing hopper; feed rollers arranged to eIi-- gage said article to discharge it onto said conveyor; members arranged to support a free of said rollers; and means for reciprodischarging article in curved position until,

eating said base plates, substantially as de-" scribed.

An assembling machine comprising a slotted supporting table; a traveling member ar'anged under said table; upwardly" projecting feed members on said traveling member projecting through the slot iii said table and arranged to push articles alon .said table; a plurality of pairs of feedi for each hopper t'ansversely concaved with hoppers arranged with the 1 .members of eachj-pair on opposite sides of 'said'eonveyer; a reciprocatory base plate respect to the direction of reciprocation; feeding members on each of said base plates arranged. to engage the outer edge of the bottommost article of apile of articles in the corresponding hopper; feed rollers arranged to engage said article to discharge it onto said conyeyer; members arranged to support a discharging article in curved posi tion until free of said rollers; and means for reciprocating said base plates substantially simultaneously, substantially as described 24. An assembling machine comprising a substantially horizontal slotted supporting table; a feed chain arranged under said table; feed. men'ibers projecting upwardly from said chain through said table; a positioning chain under said table; positioning .men'ibers on said positioning chain and projecting through said slots to cooperate with said feed members; means for feeding a ticles onto said table between said memne' automatic means for momentarily stopping said positioning chain to position said Lrticles longitudinally; reeiprocatory lateral positioning means arranged at opposite siues of said table; and automatic means for causing said lateral positioning fneans to approach arch other, substantially as described.

25. The combination of a slotted supporting table; a shaft arranged at each end and below said table, one of said shafts constituting a supporting shaft and the other a driving shaft; independent sprocket wheels on said supporting shaft; a sprocket wheel fixed to said driving shaft; a sprocket wheel ha ing limited movement on said driving shaft; a feed chain passing over said fixed sprocket wheel and one of said sprocket wheels on the supporting shaft; a positioning chain passing over the other sprocket wheels projections on said chains projecting upwardly through the slot in said table; means for temporarily interrupting the movement of 

